The Super Falcons chances of qualifying for the next round of the Olympics has markedly reason after a FIFA judgement against Canada.
The Super Falcons have received a major boost in their bid for qualification after the Canadian women's team were slapped with a six-point deduction for spying on their rivals.
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What happened
Canada are the defending champions of Olympic gold in women's football, but their chance of retaining their title has taken a major hit.
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The Canucks beat New Zealand 2-1 in their opening clash in the competition; however, it was determined that they employed drones to spy on their opponent's closed training sessions.
As punishment, they were docked six points, which put them in a deficit, and their head coach, BevPriestman, received a one-year suspension, according to Bleacher Reports.
FIFA released a statement to that effect: “The officials were each found responsible for offensive behaviour and violation of the principles of fair play in connection with the CSA's Women's representative team's drone usage.”
How this helps the Super Falcons
Of the twelve teams in the competition, only the top two teams from the three groups of four and the two best third-placed teams will make the next round.
Given the six-point deduction, the maximum number of points Canada can get is three, which is contingent on them beating both France and Colombia.
Given the difficulty of Canada's chances, a third-place finish in Group C for the Super Falcons almost guarantees qualification to the next round.
Nigeria are currently at the bottom of Group C after the 1-0 defeat to Brazil. Despite the boon that is Canada's plight, they face an uphill task to qualify, as their remaining opponents, Spain and Japan, are formidable sides who have held the tag of world champion.
Spain are the current world champion, and they are next on the docket for Randy Waldrum's side. The fixture is slated for July 28th, 6 p.m.